The Yankees are leading the AL East, having won 4 of their last 5 games – after dropping 2 straight to begin the year. As the listed #3 team in the division, their +275 odd is a nice bit of value, and it flies onto the radar of one the best bets of the week.  Of course they do have a tough schedule coming up in April – with 7 games versus Boston, 4 versus Tampa, and 3 game sets with the Angels and Mariners will not be a picnic either.  Still the team looks better than everyone thought with their pitching, and they can actually manufacture runs with new found team speed.  My gut would still be with Tampa or Boston to win out the AL East, but the value is just not there this week.

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We wake this morning to see the betting world has finally clued in the Tampa Bay Rays are a good team.  What is weird about this is that it comes off the heels of them losing their 2nd straight and falling to 4 – 4.

The Yankees are now favored 3rd in the AL East.  Even with Mark Teixeira going down to injury, I like this club.  For a change, they have finally been seeded 3rd in the Division – yet they are leading the AL Beast after week 1.

Boston showed many weaknesses versus the Milwaukee Brewers.  One of my things I also wrote about in their season preview is that they will miss Jacoby Ellsbury, and that no one in their OF will see 500+ AB.

Also worth mentioning is that the Jays are tied for the 13th best World Series odd at +2500, yet are listed as #4 in the AL East,  Stay away from this team in all directions for these odds.

Yankees Roll Call – Opening Day @ Yankee Stadium Apr.07, 2014

KC has won 3 out their last 4 games – since dropping 2 heartbreaking extra inning affairs to start the 2014 campaign against the Tigers. There is no way the Indians should be favored ahead of them – and I think the oddsmakers are missing the ball on this one. at +600 for the AL Central, this is my #1 value selection for the week!

Another team I like that was just pummeled by the bettors after 2 games are the KC Royals.  I mean they lost 2 close games to the Tigers in extra innings, and have gone 3 – 1 since then,

Cleveland shares the same record with Kansas City, yet are the 2nd favorite?  Good value on the Royals.

Detroit should still win the division, however if they sustain one big injury, the Royals could run them down.

In the AL West, Oakland are slight favorites over the Rangers and Angels.  They have it pegged right here.  Wait for the Rangers to finish playing the Red Sox.

Once they are done playing Boston, Texas has a 9 game homestand versus the Mariners, White Sox and Astros.  Count for them to make some hay there once they return to Globe Life Park.

The Angels are another team to be leery of.  Yes they just too 3 out of 4 versus Houston, however that doesn’t change the fact they were swept by Seattle, while being badly outscored.

Seattle as the 4th favorite in this division is kind of tempting at +600.  I would wait another week to see how the offense fares, in particularly how they hit at home.

The club has been pretty good on the road for offense in the past few years, whereas they have been abysmal at Safeco Field.

The NL East is right where it should be in terms of odds.  Atlanta has survived the 1st week – and are playing at home.

12 out of their next 15 games come versus the Mets, Marlins and Phillies – where they should thrive.  The club also just won a 3 game series versus Washington over the weekend.

I fully expect the Braves to have a good 15 game stretch here (9 – 6, or 10 – 5), however they Starting Staff will be on full display with 15 straight days without a day off.

I like them at the +188 mark, I just can count on Washington every relinquishing the NL East by season’s end.

Cincinnati has a grueling schedule to pave through this week after starting the year only 2 -5.  They have 2 more at Busch Stadium in St. Louis before hosting the Rays and Pirates in back to back 3 game series at home.

I would wait for the conclusion of those series to wager a bet.  You may have them at an extreme longshot for the division by then.

They also head for a 10 game road trip at the end of the month @CHI, @ATL and @PIT, tough sked YODA!

Right now I am impressed with the Milwaukee Brewers at +1500.  They just swept Boston in Fenway Park, and played Atlanta really tough in the 1st series.  At +1500, I may have to explore a bet on them.

For the NL West, it is still the Dodgers as heavy favorites to win at -300.  San Francisco at +300 is tempting in case that injury to Clayton Kershaw becomes serious.

I have said before though that it may be easier to pick SF to win the World Series at +2000 more.  I bet them +2500 before the year started.  They have come down since a nice 5 – 2 start.

Matt Cain‘s struggle against the Dodgers have me a little worried though.  If you do wager on them, don’t go with the Division bet.  They may slip into a Wild Card slot and do some damage that way.

Odds To Win The 2014 Divisions

AL East

Boston Red Sox +180

Tampa Bay Rays +210

NY Yankees +275

Toronto Blue Jays +900

Baltimore Orioles +1200

AL Central

Detroit Tigers -300

Cleveland Indians +500

Kansas City Royals +600

Chicago White Sox +2200

Minnesota Twins +3400

AL West

Oakland Athletics +188

Texas Rangers +200

LA Angels +240

Seattle Mariners +600

Houston Astros +1500

NL East

Washington Nationals -188

Atlanta Braves +180

Philadelphia Phillies +1600

NY Mets +3300

Miami Marlins +3300

NL Central

St. Louis Cardinals -175

Pittsburgh Pirates +333

Cincinnati Reds +500

Milwaukee Brewers +1500

Chicago Cubs +6600

NL West

LA Dodgers -250

SF Giants +300

Arizona D’backs +1800

San Diego Padres +1800

Colorado Rockies +1800

Milwaukee is only a few years removed from an NLCS appearance – and will have Ryan Braun back for a full year. Their 1st four starters could all win 10 – 15 games, the OF could club 75 HRs and steal as many bases, and they have strong offensive players in the Infield that could breakout. A +1500 odd is considerably decent for this longshot club. Factor in a nice start with sweeping the reigning WS Champs, and this is a decent play.

*** The views and opinions expressed in this report are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of mlbreports.com ***

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